Information on Undergraduate School of Music
Music Theory & Aural Skills Placement Examinations 2017
All entering undergraduate music majors are required to take a placement test/exam in music theory.
The results of this test will NOT affect your admissions status. There are four placement test
options to serve different students’ needs, as described below.
1. Music Theory Assessment Test (online): students who have not previously taken
college-level theory or aural skills courses (incoming freshman music majors and minors)
2. MUS 113/114 Exemption Exam: students who have not previously taken college-level
theory or aural skills courses (incoming freshman music majors and minors) who score
over a 90% on the online Music Theory Assessment Test
3. Music Theory and Aural Skills Transfer Student Exam: students who have previously
taken college-level theory or aural skills courses (transfer students)
4. AP/IB placement – based on test scores. If you passed AP/IB Music Theory, send Katie
Runkel an email, at [email protected] to confirm that you’re set, and don’t need to
take the assessment.
o Advanced Placement (AP) Exam: students who have taken the Advanced Placement
exam in music theory
o International Baccalaureate (IB): students who have taken the “Higher” IB exam
If you are an incoming UNC Music Major:
You’ve already received an invite to the class in your BearMail.
Go to Canvas.unco.edu and log in using your URSA log-in information.
Take the test and following the instructions in the packet, depending on your score! 
All students MUST complete their assessment by June 9th This is VERY important!
If you are a returning UNC student incoming to Music or you are a current music minor:
Summer on-line test
Register through URSA under SUMMER 2017: Type in CRN 40641
*You may need to wait 24 hrs. before your class/test appears in Canvas.
May 15, 2017–July 29, 2017
All students MUST complete their assessment by June 9th
This test is for students who have NOT previously taken college-level theory courses (most entering
freshman music majors and minors). This test is administered online through Canvas. This
assessment is completely free.
The test should be completed prior to June 9th and before student orientation. Please contact
[email protected] if you have trouble registering or finding the material.
The test covers music literacy in the following areas (a sample test is available on the School of
Music website at www.arts.unco.edu/music):
 Notation of pitches in treble and bass clefs
 Correct beaming of rhythms
 Intervals within an octave
 Triads
 Major and minor scales

Major and minor key signatures
Based on your test results from the assessment:
The assessment test will determine whether you have the preparation and basic theory skills to
enter the music theory sequence of courses (MUS 113 and 114) for music majors. Students who
score less than 70% will still register for MUS 113 and 114, but will also need to purchase and
complete modules in music fundamentals software called “MFun.” (see more info at the end of
this document). This module costs $40 – please read below for more details.
Students who score 90% or higher have the option of taking the MUS 113/114 Exemption Exam,
described below. Advisors will be available to help students register for theory courses at College
of Performing and Visual Arts Orientation dates.
IMPORTANT DATES!!!
MUS 113/114 Exemption Exam
Wednesday, August 16: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Frasier 169
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Incoming students who score a 90% or higher on the Music Theory Assessment Test
(above) have the option to take the MUS 113/114 Exemption Exam (this exam is NOT for
transfer students; see below). Students who score 80% or higher on the Exemption Exam
may choose to enroll in MUS 115 Music Theory II and MUS 116 Aural Skills II in their first
semester of study.
The exam will only be offered on Wednesday, August 16 (the Wednesday before classes
start in the fall) from 1–3 p.m. in Frasier Hall 169. Students who place into MUS 115 and
116 should work with their advisors to complete any necessary paperwork regarding
waiving required classes.
Music Theory and Aural Skills Transfer Student Exam
Wednesday, August 16: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, Frasier 168
This exam is for students who have received college-level credit for music theory and/or aural
skills; such transfer students do not need to take the online Music Theory Assessment Test or the
MUS 113/114 Exemption Exam described above. The transfer exam will determine which credits
will transfer to UNC as music classes and where they should start in the theory sequence.
Students are strongly encouraged to review their notes and textbooks from previous classes. For
students entering in the fall, this exam is given the week before classes begin on Wednesday,
August 16, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm in Frasier Hall 168. Transfer students who enter in the
spring should coordinate this test through Katie Runkel.
The results of the transfer exam will be emailed to the student with instructions on how to
register for the appropriate classes. To transfer credits for previous coursework, students must
take the transfer exam, and based on the results, work with Katie Runkel to apply credits toward
their degree.
Advanced Placement (AP) Exam
Students who have taken the Advanced Placement Exam for Music Theory may be eligible
for course credit. These students should request that their scores be sent to the University of
Northern Colorado’s Office of Admissions, ideally prior to their orientation date.
1. Students with a subscore of 4 on the written portion of the AP Music Theory Exam may
place into MUS 115 Music Theory II;
2. Students with a subscore of 5 on the written portion may place into MUS 213 Music
Theory III.
3. Students with a subscore of 4 on the aural skills portion of the AP Music Theory Exam may
place into MUS 114 Aural Skills II;
4. Students with a subscore of 5 on the aural skills portion may place into MUS 214 Aural
Skills III.
5. Students with a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Music Theory Exam do not need to take any
additional theory placement tests.
All may choose to start the sequence at a lower level, if desired. For information on AP
exams in other areas, visit this link.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Exam
Students who have taken the “Higher” International Baccalaureate Exam in Music may be eligible
for course credit. These students should request that their scores be sent to the University of
Northern Colorado’s Office of Admissions, ideally prior to orientation.
1. Students with a score of 6–7 on the Higher IB exam may place into MUS 115 Music Theory
II and MUS 116 Aural Skills II.
2. Students with a score of 6–7 on the Higher IB exam do not need to take any additional
theory placement tests.
They may choose to start the sequence at a lower level if appropriate.
3. Students with a 6–7 on either the Standard IB Music exam or the Higher IB Music exam
may also receive LAC credit in area 3a for MUS 140 Introduction to Music; for more
information, visit this link.
Instructions for Purchasing and Completing MFun
Who needs to purchase and complete modules in the MFun software?
Students who score lower than 70% on the Music Theory Assessment Test administered through
Canvas must purchase the MFun software and complete certain modules (see below). Completion
of these modules is a requirement for MUS 113 Music Theory I (students who score 70% or
higher on the online Assessment Test have already fulfilled this requirement). All students
enrolled in MUS 113 must pass a Music Fundamentals Barrier Exam with a score of 85% or
higher; the Barrier Exam will be given approximately halfway through the Fall semester.
What is the MFun software?
“MFun” stands for “music fundamentals.” This software is a music fundamentals textbook that
includes interactive drills and quizzes. The software automatically scores the drills and quizzes
and saves your results in a transcript file to be emailed to UNC faculty.
How and where do I purchase the MFun software?
MFun can be purchased online at this link:
http://www.macgamut.com/
Hover over “Order” in the list at the left of the screen, then click on “Order online!” In the next
screen, follow the instructions to order MFun. Note: MFun is the second software package listed;
do not order MacGamut (we do not require it at UNC).
How much does MFun cost?
MFun costs $40, less than half the price of most music fundamentals textbooks.
Which modules in MFun must I complete in order to fulfill the MUS 113 requirement?
Complete all the quizzes for Chapters 1–8 with a score of 70% or higher on each. You do not need
to complete the “Analytical Interlude” quiz.
When should I begin MFun? When is my MFun transcript due?
If you do not pass the Assessment Test on Blackboard with a 70% or higher, you should order
MFun and start it right away in the summer. Prompt completion of MFun will ensure that you are
ready to succeed in MUS 113 Music Theory I and MUS 114 Aural Skills I. Ideally you will finish the
MFun modules before classes begin. Your transcript is due by Friday, September 8, the end of the
third week of classes.
To whom at UNC do I send my MFun transcript?
When you have completed the quizzes in Chapters 1–8, email your MFun transcript
(your_name_transcript.mft) as an attachment to Dr. Carissa Reddick: [email protected]
Dr. Reddick will communicate the results of your transcript with your MUS 113 Music Theory I
instructor.